When Ben was talking about "his people" he said this (or something like it): "The Dharma Initiative came seeking harmony, yet they couldn’t get along with the original inhabitants."

And he sounded so contemptuous when he said it!!!

What I can't decide is at what/whom his contempt is directed. 1.) Is it the DHARMA initiative's failure to achieve harmony? 2.) Or does it have to do with what he said next? Something to the effect of being the only one who figured out that one of the sides had to be eliminated.

Either way, I'm :mad:.

Granted, this sort of hypocrisy has manifested itself numerous times over the course of the show, but it still makes me grit my teeth. If Ben's contempt is directed at the DHARMA initiative's failure to achieve harmony with the island's original inhabitants, he should learn to do as he says.

If his contempt is directed at their lack of intelligence, I'd have to say he's rather full of himself. IF what he is ultimately trying to do is (in his own sick, twisted way) achieve harmony with the Losties, I'd have to say he might want to rethink just how smart he is.

Some people just never learn. But (reminder to self) that is a central idea of the show. Maybe the Others and the Losties (whoever is still alive after the next two weeks) will have to "teach (each other) to sing in perfect harmony."

Which begs another question. Is harmony even possible?

LOCKE
Frodo LIVES

How can the Losties and the Others get along harmoniously after all they've done to each other? How did Jack even end up getting so friendly with him?

How can the Losties and the Others get along harmoniously after all they've done to each other? How did Jack even end up getting so friendly with him?

Who says they all have to get along? After all, a bunch were already taken and are living happily ever after in the Otherville. Maybe the other Losties are just waiting to be purged.
I get the feeling that this has happened before.

Jack getting friendly with them was basically personal gain, he thought he was going home. In the end, it was more or less Ben using him like a pawn. Now that seems right in character for Ben.

I think he was pointing out the hypocrisy of the Dharma Initiative, while he never made the same promise of himself. That's not hypocrisy.

I think he was pointing out the hypocrisy of the Dharma Initiative, while he never made the same promise of himself. That's not hypocrisy.

True, true. So what's your take on Ben? Is he just a madman?

Although I am still waiting for the shock of meeting Jacob and the shooting of Locke to wear off, that quote from Ben really stands out for me : "The Dharma Initiative came seeking harmony, yet they couldn’t get along with the original inhabitants."

Clearly his daddy issues and never having known his mother factor in deeply in his psychology, but witnessing that hypocrisy for so many years seems to be the other driving force in his life. Part of me feels sorry for him, especially as a child. But another part of me now thinks he is the most demented person on the island.

Who says they all have to get along? After all, a bunch were already taken and are living happily ever after in the Otherville. Maybe the other Losties are just waiting to be purged.
I get the feeling that this has happened before.Mulder, are you saying they've given up?